ALVECHURCH are waiting to discover whether they will have to postpone next Tuesday's derby at home to Feckenham because of Lye Meadow tenants Kings Heath's Birmingham Senior Cup commitments. The Kingsmen have had to switch their quarter final to Tuesday
DROITWICH U7s 20 Malvern 10. Despite the cold weather and heavy mud on Sunday, the Droitwich team were full of running. Good handling and attacking running from Matt Beale and Jono Moran saw Robert Colemeadow burst through for the first try. Malvern fought
FECKENHAM will be without five regulars as they bid to avenge a cup exit at the hands of Coventry Marconi on Saturday (ko 2.45pm). Midfielders James Harper and Andy Hawthorne, striker Richard Hadley, defender Dean Hadley and utility player Darren Tarver
KINGS Heath look set to annoy Lye Meadow landlords Alvechurch by switching their Birmingham Senior Cup quarter final at home to West Bromwich Albion. The Kingsmen take on the First Division side after Evesham were thrown out of the competition for failing
TWO wins from eight matches should be enough to keep Redditch United Women up according to manager Steve Tayler. The Women earned another point and extended their unbeaten run to three matches with a 2-2 draw against Villa Aztecs on Sunday. And with fellow
HEADLESS Cross Ladies saw their title hopes dented at the weekend as leaders West Brom beat Leamington 3-0. The Ladies saw their home match against lowly Bromsgrove washed out on Sunday. Manager Robert Auld is hoping the leaders will trip up in matches
Sat Aug 12 Torquay United (h) 2-0 Hadley, Horne Sat Aug 19 Scunthorpe United (a) 0-2 Tues Aug 22 Walsall (Worthington Cup 1st round, 1st leg) (a) 1-1 Hadley Sat Aug 26 Halifax Town (h) 2-1 Hadley 2 Mon Aug 28 Brighton and Hove Albion (a) 2-0 Foster, Bennett
WITH this week's snow and icy weather at bringing a real winter flavour to town it's hard to believe British Summer Time starts on Sunday. These youngsters -- Jay Lees, aged three, and Samuel Grounds, four, from Abacus Nursery School, in Lickey End, Bromsgrove
A GLIMMER of hope eme-rged this week that Bromsgrove residents who qualify for concessionary bus fares may in future pay less to travel. The Advertiser/Messenger can exclusively reveal that talks between Bromsgrove District Council and bus operators to
RESIDENTS living in hostels and sheltered housing sche-mes in Bromsgrove are set to come under the spotlight tonight when councillors discuss a new Government document. Bromsgrove District Council's cabinet will hear a consultation report outlining changes
ANGRY residents and businesses opposed to the controversial scheme to close off dangerous junctions along the A491 look set to have their say at a public inquiry in May. A provisional date for the two-day inquiry, which will see an independent Government
STICKY-FINGERED youngsters were told to keep mum about the special recipe they have cooked up for Mother's Day. Little ones took to the kitchen at Sticky Fingers Nursery, in Highfield Road, to make sweet treats for their mums. They also made cards in
HOUSEHOLDERS in Bromsgrove are to be quizzed about train travel after a survey of rail commuters revealed they are far from satisfied. Bromsgrove Liberal Democrats carried out a survey at the town's railway station last month, collecting more than 100
THE boss of a Stoke Prior boating holiday company, who has had to turn customers away, is keeping his fingers crossed for the outcome of a canal inspection which begins today. The manager of Black Prince Holidays Ltd, Tim Parker, has been unable to take
NEW measures to tackle the litter problem in and around Bromsgrove are being considered by the district council. It follows a meeting held at the council house last Wednesday when close on 50 residents turned up at the authority's invitation to put forward
BROMSGROVE District Council can draw little comfort from a reply from the Department of Health over its opposition to the scrapping of Community Health Councils. The authority lodged its objection last November when former Bromsgrove GP Cllr Dr Elizabeth
TAKE your marks for this year's Bromsgrove junior bikeathon, which is set to be bigger and better than ever before. The sponsored cycle ride, which raises money for Leukaemia Research, is for the first time being supported by children's TV programme Blue
A CONFERENCE to help reduce the misery of people being bullied and harassed at work is being held in Bromsgrove this Friday. It is being organised by ACAS, the independent Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, and aims to show what employers
RESIDENTS of Lydiate Ash and Wildmoor are celebrating after plans for a motocross track that would cause "appalling" noise pollution were withdrawn. Bromsgrove District Council's planning committee heard that West Midlands Youth and Adult Motocross Club
TRADERS heard that clampers in Bromsgrove may themselves be parking illegally -- but defended the need for parking controls on their land. Athol Deakin, of Bromsgrove Shrubs, said he had often seen a worker in a Midlands Parking Contracts van stopped
MARKET researchers are choking Bromsgrove High Street and putting off shoppers, traders have warned. Shop owners have received constant complaints from customers who have been bothered by several researchers even on a short walk down the street. BroMark
A LEADING Bromsgrove councillor has put pen to paper to get involved in a £59m scheme to help regenerate the West Midlands economy. The A38 Technology Corridor is part of the Rover Taskforce set up last March by the Government's trade and industry secretary
STAFF and pupils at a Lickey End school have excelled themselves to snatch a slice of a £60m budget set aside to reward soaring performance levels. The Government's School Achievement Award recognises staff at establishments where the pupil performance
AWARD-WINNING Bromsgrove Junior Chamber has proved mixing business with pleasure is the recipe for success. The group, which meets each week, often at the town's Hilton Hotel, in Birmingham Road, enjoys a range of activities from out-of-hours training
Kidderminster Harriers have now gone six hours and 17 minutes without scoring and seven matches without a win after a 1-0 defeat at Shrewsbury Town. A last-minute goal from centre-half Matt Redmile sentenced Harriers to a defeat they hardly deserved.
Wilding shot tamely at Clarke from the edge of the area on 68 minutes in a rare Shrewsbury shot on goal. The play was very scrappy and there was little quality thought the occasional run from home winger Aiston brightened the match up. Lowe volleyed spectacularly
THE Midlands office of the British American Business Council (BABC) is predicting a 50 per cent increase in American-related business in the region over the next three years. Malcolm Gloster, who was recently appointed regional chairman of BABC, is regional
MORE than 20 jobs will be created in Bromsgrove when one of the oldest buildings on the High Street re-opens its doors next month. The Hogshead Pub Company has invested more than £1m in the site, knocking through and renovating three units at 126-130
A SERIES of assaults - including an ambush-style hold-up - have left bus drivers fearing for their safety, writes Julian Seva. Three assaults were reported between March 8 and 11 and First Midland Red bosses believe the same offenders could be involved
A LEGAL catch-22 may prevent Bromsgrove Rovers obtaining the lease they need on the Victoria Ground -- the Advertiser/Messenger has learned. Football club chairman Pat Bannister has repeatedly urged Bromsgrove District Council to grant a new lease on
A BID to create a riverside housing development in central Worcester is set to be revived - a decade after it was first unveiled. British Waterways is preparing a planning application to transform Diglis Basin and Diglis Dock Road, and could put plans
THE father of a Worcester boy who was paraded in front of cameras by Saddam Hussein has died, aged 52. Derek Lockwood was taken ill at work last Friday and died minutes later from a suspected heart attack. Tribute was paid yesterday to the way he brought
A REPEAT of last year's catastrophic floods could be prevented as the Environment Agency starts work on a new strategy looking at how prevention sch-emes would work together. The 18-month study has recently started along the River Severn. When the work
A MAN suffered blast injuries in a shed explosion near Martley. Firefighters only discovered the injured victim after putting out the blaze which followed the blast, at around 6.30pm. The incident happened in a brick-built shed near a cottage a mile from
A RETIRED factory machinist stabbed himself in the heart in an apparent rash "spur of the moment" decision, an inquest was told. Leslie Binner had been argumentative with his family leading up to the incident, which happened on the afternoon of Saturday
IN the Bromsgrove and Redditch Table Tennis League last week bottom team Hillcrest A were beaten 10-0 by table toppers Newton Works A. Chris Maiden, Brian Belcher and Michael Kendall made up the visitors' winning trio. Newton Works B's captain, Gary Jackson
BROMSGROVE Swimming Club returned to form last weekend at the Dolphin Centre after a disappointing start to the Worcester Winter League campaign. The club set the tone for the victory in the first event as Olivia Alton, Jamie Farrin, Sophie Harries, William
BROMSGROVE School's hockey team were runners-up in the BAE Systems U18s Championship on Sunday March 11. It was a tense championship at Milton Keynes where the girls beat the other three regional champions, Stockport, Havant and Queenswood, but succumbed
EXPECTING a tough match, Bromsgrove took to the pitch like a team possessed. Bromsgrove Ladies' Seconds 3 Cresconians 1. Excellent team work ensured victory, with the side going ahead in the first ten minutes thanks to a combined effort from forwards
A FARMER in Hampton Lovett trying to protect his livelihood from the foot and mouth epidemic has been targeted by "heartless" thieves. Disinfectant and a sprayer were taken from his premises. The Spa's rural beat manager, PC Al Birkett, said: "This is
TO CONTINUE Councillor Smithers' sporting analogy of his letter 'Labour bias against Shire counties,' (Letters, March 7), his comments are of a similar standard to some of the umpiring we have seen in the current Sri Lanka v England Test Series. At a
MAY I bring readers' attention to the dangers posed by horse riders on badly lit roads, particularly in the twilight hours? Last week I almost ran into two horses, riding two abreast, in Callow Hill Lane. Both horses were dark and both riders were wearing
If Mr Weston is not interested in improving the NHS (Letters, March 14), that's his right. I am. I also realise that renewing and expanding a hospital takes several months, sometimes more than a year, to achieve. I expect some disruption to NON-URGENT
I ENJOY reading your letters section and the banter that goes on between the various political supporters. Never before have I been driven to writing to you, but I must after the letter from that extreme left supporter, Robin King, as usual blaming the
PARISH councillors have hit out at the state of the roads in Wythall. They spoke of large potholes at major junctions and voiced concern about a lack of services during a meeting on Thursday. The worst potholes are at the junctions of Simms Lane/Shawhurst
NITROGEN dioxide levels in the Alvechurch area will be monitored for three months before officers decide what action to take, writes Melina Cannon. A draft report of findings from a two-year study recently revealed Coopers Hill was one of two sites near
A PUBLIC entertainment licence has been granted to Redditch Football Club's Valley Stadium, despite objections from residents. People living in Lowans Hill View complained about noise from late night functions at the club. But Redditch councillors agreed
COUNCIL tax debt has been reduced by nearly £20,000 by Redditch Council, 31 per cent ahead of target. The council operates a 'debtors system' where all debts are monitored every four weeks and in some cases deductions are made from benefits such as income
A CONTROVERSIAL planning application for a nursery in Evesham Road has been approved, despite vehement opposition from residents who fear traffic chaos, writes Julian Seva. Serious concerns were raised after plans were submitted for a 62-place nursery
REDDITCH U7s were beaten 30-20 at Kidderminster despite a stirring display in bitterly cold weather. David Jones and Kyle Hart scored tries before half-time but a fast and tricky home side gained the edge with excellent individual play. David and Kyle
RESIDENTS and farmers will be consulted before a final decision is made by the Astwood Bank Carnival committee about whether the event will go ahead despite the foot and mouth outbreak, writes Melina Cannon. A meeting was held on Thursday to discuss the
THE traditional Feckenham Spring Fair has been cancelled for the first time in living memory due to foot and mouth. The Feckenham Flower Show committee said it regretted cancelling the fair, planned for Saturday, but felt it would be irresponsible to
A FORMER Redditch man is blazing a trail in Oxfordshire after passing out as a firefighter. Jon Laight, 25, who went to Bridley Moor High School, successfully completed a 16-week residential training course and is now stationed at Banbury. Before moving
A DENTIST has decided to bite the bullet and travel to India to run a free dental clinic for underprivileged people. Dr Dev Khosla, president of Redditch Rotary Club, is in the village of Bhiwani to treat patients who walk miles for what might be the
FORMER pupils of the County Secondary School in Astwood Bank can catch up with old chums at a reunion in April. The get-together at what is now Ridgeway Middle School on April 7 is for those who attended the school between 1962 and 1967. Organiser Jackie
TURKS Head progressed to the semi-final of the Advertiser/Messenger Cup with a well deserved victory over Alvechurch Darts. Turks Head 3 Alvechurch Darts 1. The home side started the brightest and were unlucky not to take the lead when Steve Morgan's
DROITWICH Red Lion marched into their second semi-final in as many weeks with a superb team performance in this 5-0 thrashing of Rubery Social in the LMS Shield. The Lion were up for it from the start and Colley, Crumpler and Adderley went close before
ILLNESS and injuries saw a number of reserves drafted into the first team squad for RBL. Wychbold RBL (1) 3 Millfields OB (1) 1. In a late kick off, owing to a fixture mix-up, Millfields started well and put pressure on the RBL defence, which held firm
VOLUNTEERS are being sought to help organise a soccer tournament in aid of charity this summer. A couple of people are needed to assist with the Primrose Hospice and Cancer Help Centre's annual six-a-side football event in August. The current organiser
THE family of a Droitwich Spa marine who was killed last year in a street attack are expected to attend the official opening of a new development where a street has been named in his honour. Corporal Kevin Weaver's mother, Attracta, from The Holloway,
LITTLE sweeties at a town nursery have made tasty treats for their mums to mark Mothering Sunday. Pupils from Valley Nursery, in Cockshute Hill, have whipped up chocolate coated peppermint creams and cluster cakes to give to their mums this Sunday. A
A RECORD-BREAKING year for Comic Relief was boosted by the madcap efforts of Droitwich Spa fundraisers. Taxi driver Paul Williams and staff from Mojos Hair Salon, in High Street, clowned around and collected £500 on Red Nose Day. Sponsor money raised
WORCESTERSHIRE'S Graeme Hick made a welcome return to form today in England's final warm-up match for the one-day series in Sri Lanka. He struck a sparkling century to help England to a convincing 51-run victory over a Board President's XI in Colombo.
A SELECTION of unusual prizes are rolling in for a high profile charity raffle being held in Droitwich Spa. Wychavon District Council chairman David Folkes (Con, Broadway) is hosting a dinner and dance on Friday March 30 to mark his end of term in office
The John Barton column Through no fault of our own, we have been caught up in fixture congestion, which was increased by the postponement of last Saturday's game at Havant and Waterlooville. With the cup competitions we are involved in, it could be made
Redditch Tae Kwon Do Club achieved medal success at the Midland open championships in Kettering against 800 competitors. Judith Llewellyn Li, from Winyates West, took gold in the ladies' red belt sparring. And there were bronze medals for Gavin Barlow
A HEADLESS Cross tennis ace was celebrating after bagging two national titles. And her daughter also reached the last four for good measure. Pauline Fisher, of Erwood Close, won the 35s and over and 45s and over singles categories of the Hertz no.1 Cup
THE White Hart Bowling Club want new members as they gear up for the new season. The 150-year-old club, together with Alcester BC, the most southerly Crown Green club in England, want men aged 35-50 as they bid for honours with matches on Saturdays, Sundays
REDDITCH face a weekend double-header after Saturday's match at West Brom was snowed off. The match has been rearranged for Sunday (11am start), a day after the Bromsgrove Road club take on Kynock in the league. Saturday's game is set to be away after
IN the Bromsgrove & Redditch Table Tennis League bottom team Hillcrest entertained top club Newton Works. And the result was never in doubt with the Newton team of Chris Maiden, Brian Belcher and Michael Kendall running out easy 10-0 winners. Newton
SAMBOURNE speedster Gordon Matthews is set to start the 2001 Autosport Caterham Roadsport Challenge on Sunday. The 44-year-old MD, sponsored by Ramesys, is in his second season in the series and wants to improve on 18th overall last time out. One of five
Redditch players gained 1st, 2nd and 3rd in a joint competition with Bromsgrove. Nine Redditch players, organised by Phil Church of Redditch Chess Club, challenged Bromsgrove's Seriously Board Club to a lightning tournament. David Richardson, aged 13,
AN ASTWOOD Bank bikes ace could be left without a ride this season after a major sponsor pulled out at the eleventh hour. Andy Tinsley was preparing for another crack at the Super Stock class of the British Championship after finishing sixth in his class
THE friends and family of a 20-year-old man, whose headless body was found in a Rubery park, have raised £5,000 for a reward for information leading to the capture of the killer. The torso of Julian Sanders, who lived in lodgings in Allness Close, Shrewsbury
MR Margrett (You Say, March 10) calls rats "filthy, disease-carrying creatures". Yet they are only behaving as God, or nature, designed them to behave. Is the human race really so much better, with its wars, murders, rapes, swindling, theft, money-grabbing
THE recent suggestion by Coun Rob Peachey that the council tax payers of Worcestershire should pay higher taxes in order to be considered for increased grants from Central Government typifies the crass arrogance which has now engulfed New Labour. Their
I WRITE to you at a time when the Countryside is in crisis. As a matter of respect, I have written no letters on the issue of hunting with hounds. This is neither the time nor the place. I would ask everyone to spare a thought for every livestock farmer
6 WHEN Peter Luff portrays himself as being above party politics (You Say, March 12), it puts me in mind of the salesman who calls offering to replace your windows free of charge. "Why does this person expect to win me to his side by treating me as an
Through no fault of our own, we have been caught up in fixture congestion, which was increased by the postponement of last Saturday's game at Havant and Waterlooville. With the cup competitions we are involved in, it could be made doubly bad. But having
WORCESTER City are hoping for a bigger than usual gate when they experiment with Friday night soccer this weekend. The home Dr Martens League Premier Division clash with Cambridge City (7.45) has been brought forward by a day to avoid a clash with the
WEEKS of rehearsals will end this week when a Redditch high school stages its last performance before closing this summer. A production based on the 50s sci-fi series Forbidden Planet will be staged at Bridley Moor High School tonight, tomorrow and Friday
AN operation to combat drug abuse on a Redditch estate has been launched by police following a number of complaints, writes Becky Procter. Residents and Redditch councillors expressed grave concern the stairwell and lobbies around Woodrow Centre are being
A REDDITCH teenager, the youngest person in Britain to have an anti-social behaviour order placed against him, will appear at the town's Youth Court on March 29 after proceedings were adjourned on Thursday. The 14-year-old boy, who cannot be named, is
A WOMAN has been left distraught after all the tack she uses to retrain mistreated horses and ponies at a Rowney Green stables was stolen, writes Becky Procter. Karen Grant runs the Horse and Pony Rescue Association in Chapel Lane which became the target
Neighbourhood Watch representatives in Redditch have warned townsfolk to keep garden ornaments in sight and hidden from thieves. A spokesman said thefts were up from last year. Residents are advised to keep ornaments in back gardens or areas where there
KINGS Heath's dream Birmingham Senior Cup tie against West Bromwich Albion could be held up because of an appeal by Evesham. The Dr Martens Western club have written to the Birmingham County FA after being booted out of the competition on Friday. Spokesman
BROMSGROVE Rugby Club's U11s squad returned from the weekend tour of Somerset with the honours even over the three games played. Bridgwater and Albion 29 Bromsgrove U11s 17. Playing on Bridgwater's First team pitch against a mixed U11s and U12s squad,
THE snow and rain look to have wiped out another set of midweek fixtures around Redditch. Studley BKL have already postponed their home Worcestershire Senior Urn clash against Kidderminster Harriers Reserves tonight (Wednesday). And Feckenham manager
STRATFORD U15s 27 Bromsgrove RFC U15s 32. Town started lively and soon scored when Warren Oliver cut through Stratford's defence with Ollie Wells converting. The first half became a see-saw tussle as Stratford's heavier pack started to disrupt Bromsgrove's
STUDLEY striker Andy Grubb is struggling to be fit for Saturday's trip to Southam (ko 2.45pm) with a troublesome ankle injury. The Bees' leading scorer has been unable to train since suffering a reaction in the 2-1 Smedley Crooke Cup win over County Sports
THE City of Birmingham has in my view been correct in allowing the general public continued limited access to the Lickey Hills Country Park. An excellent job is being done by the park's rangers, and all the users of the Lickey Hills have acted responsibly
MAY I suggest we give our stricken farmers immediate support. The money set aside for charity from the twice weekly Lottery should be given for the next two months to support them and help them through this dreadful disaster. When this crisis is over,
CLLR June Longmuir makes a valiant attempt to justify the Tory budget. The alternative budgets proposed by the Conservatives and the Labour/Liberal Democrat partnership nicely illustrate the key differences between our parties. The Conservatives proposed
I would like to thank you for printing the picture of Peter Luff MP opening Annie's Bridge over the Canal in Vines Park in The Droitwich Spa Advertiser. I was pleased to welcome Mr Luff, who is vice-president of Droitwich Canals Trust, to open the bridge
THROUGH the columns of your paper may I thank the people of Bromsgrove for another good result for the Poppy Appeal. The amount so far received is £8,009.80 with donations still to come for wreaths laid on the memorials on Remembrance Sunday. Once again
DETECTIVES in Rubery hoping to reunite thousands of pounds worth of stolen jewellery with its owners were left red-faced after they 'lost' it. On Monday morning, the Advertiser/Messenger's photographer turned up at Rubery police station to snap the haul
A PET halfway house in Catshill has been forced to close its doors as the foot and mouth crisis continues. The Blue Cross Animal Adoption Centre, in Wildmoor Lane, which provides shelter for rescued animals while they are waiting to be rehoused, has stopped
IRRESPONSIBLE dog owners who allow their pets to run free are being rapped on the knuckles as the district council strives to curb the spread of the foot and mouth disease. Councillors and officers on Bromsgrove District Council want everyone to adhere
INTRUDERS caused £100-worth of damage when they broke into an office in St Richards Road, Four Pools Estate, Evesham, between 12.25pm last Sunday and 7.45am on Monday. It is believed nothing was stolen.
BROMSGROVE police are appealing for witnesses to a brawl which took place in the town centre during a busy Saturday afternoon. At around 4pm on March 3 a window was smashed in a bus in Market Street bus station. A force spokesman said the matter was dealt
BROMSGROVE residents are being urged to have their say on the biggest shake-up of local government for more than a century. Questionnaires are being sent to every household in the district outlining four options set out by the Government aimed at modernising
ANGRY Rubery traders are up in arms because a garden built to mark the Millennium is putting their livelihoods at risk. Lilah Rohman, co-owner of Martin's Sportswear, in New Road, was left fuming after Bromsgrove District Council ordered her, and nearby
A TRADER has given a boost to the planned Bromsgrove in Bloom competition, which is intended to make the town a riot of colour this summer, by offering special deals for shops which want to take part. BroMark hopes to see shops compete to produce the
THOMAS Monkton, a boy living in Worcester Street, was brought before Bromsgrove magistrates charged with using a catapult in the road near his home. He was fined 2/6 (12.5p) including costs. 100 years ago March 23, 1901 THOMAS Monkton, a boy living in
A DEDICATED Bromsgrove woman, who has been braving all weathers as she trains for the Flora London Marathon, is seeking a training partner to keep her company. Gaye Cowley, of Monserrat Road, is planning to take part in the 26-mile marathon on Sunday
Tuesday, March 20, 2001 KIDDERMINSTER Harriers looked to be heading for their fourth successive goalless draw until Shrewsbury Town clinched a 1-0 victory with a dramatic 90th minute goal in last night's Nationwide League Division Three clash at the Gay
A MAN who was arguing with his girlfriend was punched in the face as he walked through Bromsgrove late at night. The 30-year-old and his partner were rowing at the junction of Stratford Road and The Strand. Police say another man saw them arguing and
UNEMPLOYMENT in Bromsgrove has fallen over the last year with 79 people finding work, leaving 1,156 of those able to work claiming benefit. The town's unemployment rate stands at 3.3 per cent, which is one of the highest in Worcestershire, almost equalling
HIGH-flier Roseanne Crossey's career has taken off with British Airways. Roseanne, from Warndon Villages, Worcester, has been appointed to the post of media relations representative with BA. A former marketing and PR manager for British Airways' franchise
BAFFLED engineers have been forced to close a major route through Studley after a mysterious hole appeared under the road. The A435 was partially closed two weeks ago when 'voiding' appeared under the surface near Watts Road. The road has been closed
WORCESTER'S Guildhall is infested with rats "the size of kittens", a city councillor has claimed. Coun Mike Layland said he saw a "huge" rodent after leaving a meeting earlier this month. "I was in the car park and spotted something under a car," he said
THIS is the picture of the two counties this morning following four fresh outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in the past 24-hours. Ministry of Agriculture vets confirmed cases at Stone, near Kidderminster, and Cutnall Green, near Droitwich, yesterday
PLANS to develop Worcester's Grove Farm have been put on hold while the Government considers whether to order an inquiry. Last month, the city council gave the Grove Farm Consortium the green light to dig up 12.5 acres for an industrial estate. Worcester
AN action group fighting to save the town's Lido Pool and keep it in public hands plans to challenge the district council's claim that opening the pool this summer will cost more than £100,000. The Droitwich Lido Action Group, meeting for the first time
A MALVERN teenager who hanged himself had been withdrawn and depressed since returning from France, an inquest was told. Thomas Sangway's body was discovered by his mother on Sunday, March 18, at his home in The Leys. In a statement coroner's officer,
INTREPID oarsmen Richard Wood and Rob Ringer have officially launched their mammoth fund-raising campaign at a glittering ceremony at Worcester's Guildhall. The pair are setting out to undertake one of the biggest challenges of their lives later this
WORCESTER Cathedral's Lady Chapel will be open for prayer from 9am until 5.15pm every Wednesday during the foot-and-mouth crisis. The Holy Communion service held in the Cathedral, at 1.05pm each Wednesday, will also be dedicated to the agricultural community
A NARROWBOAT holiday operator has spoken of his relief that canals are to reopen next week. Rob Bell says his Worcester-based firm, Viking Afloat, can now start thinking about returning to business after Environment Minister Michael Meacher announced
AGRICULTURE Minister Nick Brown was today due to face questions from a cross-party committee of MPs about the Government's response to the foot-and-mouth crisis. Joining Mr Brown in his appearance before the House of Commons agriculture select committee
6 Monday, February 26 1. Hill Farm, Llancloudy, Herefs: 270 cattle and 650 sheep 6 Wednesday, February 28 2. Tricorras Farm, Llangarron, Herefs: 200 cattle and 1,000 sheep 6 Friday, March 2 3. Windybank Farm, Feckenham, Worcs: 3 cattle and 157 sheep 6
THIS is the picture of the two counties this morning following four fresh outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in the past 24-hours. Ministry of Agriculture vets confirmed cases at Stone, near Kidderminster, and Cutnall Green, near Droitwich, yesterday
THE start of the racing season was once again postponed for Bromsgrove Olympique CC's youth team at the weekend. This time it wasn't the foot and mouth epidemic to blame but the weather. The Wolverhampton West Park circuit was carpeted with snow and far
CARS abandoned on Spa streets are a 'fire hazard and a danger', claims a Spa resident. Brenda Jones spoke out on the day Droitwich police launched an initiative to tackle such problems. Help is now at hand for people whose lives are blighted by neighbours
ROBIN King signs off his latest letter (Advertiser, March 14) with the sort of foul which would earn him a red card on the football pitch. Robin tried to deny that handing out the morning-after pill to young teenagers is Labour Party policy and, not long
SPRING sprung this morning in no uncertain terms. This latest weather abnormality follows a period when the floods that ravaged the city and county have rarely been out of the headlines. Cast your minds back to a year ago, or maybe longer. Can any reader
I WOULD like to thank the organisers of Spring in Your Step, an event put on for senior citizens at the town hall, and also to the many helpers of all ages who assisted us for their hospitality. It was indeed a great success as I saw it. I personally
REGARDING the letter about repairs not being done to footpaths and drains not being cleaned out (Advertiser, March 14). I have lived in Redditch for 25 years and what the person in question says is true. Also he forgot to say that our roads are full of
WITH regard to Robin King's letter (Advertiser March 14). You can tell he is a typical Labour party member - if something goes wrong first blame anybody to try to deflect criticism from the party. If that does not work, put out the spin and try to confuse
I HAVE very recently received excellent treatment at the Alexandra Hospital When I fell in my garden and dislocated a shoulder - very painful - a kind friend took me into casualty where I was dealt with with kindness and promptness. I feel we are lucky
WOODRUSH have applied to rejoin the Midlands Three West South so they can be relegated and play Division Four rugby next season. The Icknield Street side pulled out of the league on the eve of the season after an exodus of players and spent a season in
ALCESTER hope to hastily rearrange their postponed relegation battle at Claverdon for Saturday. The game, which could decide Alcester's fate, fell victim to a waterlogged pitch at the weekend. But with the Kings Coughton side at home to Birmingham Civil
A SPECIALIST recruitment consultancy has launched in Droitwich Spa. Central Recruitment, which specialises in the security industry, operates from a Spa home. The company was established by Phil Ruggiero, who has 20 years experience in all levels of security
ARROW Valley Countryside Centre remains open despite the foot and mouth crisis. In fact, members of the Ledbury and district Age Concern Bosbury Club and Smiths Industries retirement club visited the adjoining Lake View Caf on Wednesday. The trips, billed
SECRETARY of State for the Environment Michael Meacher MP dropped into Studley on Sunday on a fact-finding mission about the foot and mouth crisis. Mr Meacher was due to visit Coughton Court to meet Lady Throckmorton to discuss the crisis and see how
A REDDITCH service providing support to families has launched a course to train volunteers, writes Melina Cannon. Home-Start began 12 years ago from a tiny office in the town but moved into Community House, Easemore Road, and set up a branch in Bromsgrove
PERFORMING arts students at NEW College are putting the finishing touches to a specially adapted version of Macbeth. The production, to be performed at the drama studio from Tuesday, March 27 until Thursday, March 29, promises a new perspective on the
A BEOLEY woman has been forced to use the treadmill at the gym to train for a charity walk because of foot and mouth. Ellie Meaking, of Wapping Lane, is preparing to tackle the challenging Great Wall of China and leaves for the Far East on September 30
REDDITCH Community Transport (RCT) has been awarded the Chamber of Commerce's Investors in People status. RCT provides an accessible transport service and volunteer, training and employment opportunities. The organisation also runs Worcestershire Wheels
A UNIQUE Victorian pillar-box destroyed in a Studley car crash will not be repaired and may not be replaced. The hexagonal 'Penfold' letterbox which, according to experts, was the only example in use in the country, is beyond repair. The Post Office has
A CHURCH Hill boy has scooped the prestigious first prize in a competition to design a poster to promote the long awaited re-opening of the Redditch household waste site this week. Thomas Wiseman, 11, was one of hundreds of youngsters who entered the
COUNSELLING sessions to help people quit smoking will be taken out to every community centre in Redditch. Worcestershire Health Authority has announced the introduction of a smoking cessation officer dedicated to Redditch, which has the highest death
THIS match was even until the 30-minute mark when Black Horse took the lead after a cross from Donaghan was only half cleared and Martin Kyte headed home from close range. Garringtons Sunday FC (0) 1 Black Horse FC (2) 4. (Keith Turner Memorial Trophy
HERE are the Redditch and South Warwickshire Combin-ation results for March 18. Steven Troth Cup semi-final: Old Varsity Tavern 1 Linread NB 2. Division One: Mayfly FC 5 (Mark Chambers two, John Edwards, Mark Neath two) Northfield Con 2 (Steve Evans,
HANBURY U14s 4 Hunters Moon Colts U14s 1. After Dean Palmer opened the scoring early in the second half, there was only one outcome. He added a second before Alex Kolb's header and Jon Stock's volley finished off the visitors. MoM Lester Drysdale. Hanbury
YOUNGSTERS at a Spa nursery have been learning about time changes around the world to coincide with the start of British Summer Time. Clocks go forward one hour at 2am this Sunday. Staff at Droitwich Spa Nursery and Kindergarten, in Worcester Road, have
A CONTROVERSIAL airstrip for microlights, which Hadzor residents said would disrupted their peace and privacy, is set to continue for another three years. Technicalities in procedure mean the final decision will be taken by Wychavon District Council officers
THE parents of a Spa youngster who died of a brain tumour have organised a charity golf competition and a summer ball to help them raise £25,000 this year for research. Teams of three are invited to Droitwich Golf and Country Club, in Ford Lane, on May
A GROUP of Spa thespians are hoping to get children hooked on theatre with a series of fun plays. The Norbury Theatre put on a performance of The Ghost Who Wanted A Friend at its Friar Street venue on Saturday as part of a series of shows aimed at youngsters
A HOSPITAL serving Droitwich Spa neared crisis point last week as it struggled to accommodate accident victims when large numbers of beds were taken up with non-urgent patients. Droitwich MP Peter Luff said he was told that at the worst point there were
WORK by the district council is being scaled back dramatically around the Spa in an attempt to halt the spread of foot and mouth disease. Non-urgent work in rural areas is to be put on hold until the crisis ends. Wychavon District Council's head of environmental
A LORRY on the A38 near Droitwich may have been deliberately set on fire after the driver stopped in a lay-by to get food. Firefighters were called at 6pm on Monday to a ten-tonne flatbed truck which was parked near the Copcut Elm pub. Two appliances
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers looked to be heading for their fourth successive goalless draw until Shrewsbury Town clinched a 1-0 victory with a dramatic 90th minute goal in last night's Nationwide League Division Three clash at the Gay Meadow. For Harriers
WORCESTER City hope - weather permitting - to end a 41-year wait tonight by reaching the final of the Dr Martens League Cup. City travel to Newport County for their semi-final tie (7.45), intent on going through to their first final in the competition
A DARING Spa student exploring the great planes of Africa has reported home to say her trip is going well Adventurous Vivien Searle, left for Ghana in February, to spend three months living under the stars. The 18-year-old is travelling with Rally International
Worcester Warriors' home clash with Gloucestershire at Sixways tonight has been called off. The bad weather forced the club to take the decision to postpone the match this morning.
A DROITWICH Spa woman has launched an inspirational magazine for female readers and writers. Sheila Crawley, of Albert Street, was a very proud woman at the launch of her publication -- Pandora's Box. The 48-year-old dreamt up the idea two years ago and
Evesham United, who held a comfortable 3-0 lead with 12 minutes to go, conceded two late goals before beating Solihull Borough 3-2 in last night's Dr Martens League Western Division fixture at Common Road. Andrew Hodgetts put United in front on 12 minutes
PUBLIC transport in Droitwich Spa is about to get smarter with a £1.6m cash boost to make bus and rail information more hi-tech. The money will provide computer technology to help staff plan journeys for the less able and for people in rural areas. The
WORCESTERSHIRE Senior Urn holders Malvern Town reached the final of this season's competition when they staged a second half fight- back to win 2-1 at Midland Combination Premier Dvision Alvechurch last night. Alvechurch took the lead after 24 minutes
SPA travelled to Coventry to play Trinity Guild on Saturday and in very difficult conditions failed to find the fluidity they played with in previous weeks. Trinity Guild First XV 10 Droitwich First XV 15. Midlands Division Four West (South). Droitwich
In last week's Advertiser/Messenger, you published an extensive interview with officers of Bromsgrove Rovers Football Club. We would like to comment on several of the issues raised as we feel this may add some value to your readers' understanding of the
DIVISION Three table toppers Bromsgrove General are four points clear after a 5-1 victory over Greyhound Hunters on Sunday. The goal heroes were John Bird (two), Nick Henry, John Preece and Dan Taylor. Ben Moseley scored the consolation for Hunters who
Angling with Tony Brunn. GO Fishing is here again at Birmingham NEC over three days starting this Friday and I predict large crowds will hit the event because foot and mouth disease has restricted fishing. I will be making my annual pilgrimage and will
FOOD lovers who enjoy eating out in Bromsgrove and Droitwich Spa can take a virtual tour around their favourite restaurants. A new website www.dine4u.com allows users to tour selected restaurants, 'sample' food and wine and obtain directions. The site
A VILLAGE store near Bromsgrove has received a facelift thanks to a massive cash injection. Sandra's Superstore, in Alcester Road, Lickey End, has received a grant of more than £8,000 from the Vital Villages project. Owner Sandra Smith, who took over
WORCESTER City hope - weather permitting - to end a 41-year wait tonight by reaching the final of the Dr Martens League Cup. City travel to Newport County for their semi-final tie (7.45), intent on going through to their first final in the competition
OAKENSHAW ace Enzo Mucci's Touring Cars dream is in tatters after he was culled from his new JSM team. The Shenington-based works team offered Mucci a Jensen Button-style elevation from Formula 3 into the televised Touring Cars championship. Mucci has
THE all-conquering Redditch Regals are poised to seal another Premier Division title at Aston University tomorrow night (Thursday). The Arrow Vale-based basketballers are on course to repeat the one hundred per cent record gained last season after beating
ALCESTER fencing star David Brenda helped England to victory in the under 16 sabre tournament Home International. Brenda, aged 16, was in the England side which won all its matches at Tidworth, Hampshire. England were overall winners of the under 16 and
Budding Boris Beckers and Steffi Grafs at Webheath First School tested their skills in a short tennis interschools tournament, writes Melina Cannon. A total of 16 teams took part with the girls coming out on top. Coach Richard Lawton said: "All teams
ST Mary's RC School, Studley, won the St Benedict's RCHS Feeder Schools Netball Tournament for the second year running. The Studley school beat St Gregory's 8-2 in the final in a competition which also involved Our Lady RC, Alcester, and St Mary's RC
WORCESTER City are hoping for a bigger than usual gate when they experiment with Friday night soccer this weekend. The home Dr Martens League Premier Division clash with Cambridge City (7.45) has been brought forward by a day to avoid a clash with the
VILLAGERS in Belbroughton united against a proposal to build a house in the middle of a conservation area are celebrating after the application was finally laid to rest. Hawkstone Properties appealed against a decision by Bromsgrove District Council in
LET us not submit St John's people to any more dismal, depressing, rejections of their hopes for a new supermarket. Surely we don't have to put up with outdated shops and service in St John's any longer. Both chemists are good and essential, but we need
THE concepts of livelihood and liberty have been raised by the Countryside Alliance in their pro-hunting campaign. It would be nice if we could all have access to a livelihood and we all know too well how many manufacturing jobs have been lost in the
IN response to the article headed "Infant class sizes on the way down", (Evening News, March 9), I would like to state that I represent one of six sets of parents for whom this is not good news. Reduction in class sizes following Government legislation
TWO mums have returned from the three-day Vet-erans' Indoor European Athletics Championships in France with five gold medals and one silver. Janice Pryce, from Frankley, competed in the 40-44 age group and took silver in the long jump with a leap of 4.91
IT never rains but it pours. Bromsgrove Rovers let in a flood of goals against a rampaging Tiverton Town in heavy rain at Ladysmead. Tiverton Town (4) 5 Bromsgrove Rovers (0) 0. (Dr Martens League Western Division). The visitors had five debutants on
BROMSGROVE Rovers' director of football, Steve Daniels, is confident the club will stay up this season. They are third from bottom of the Dr Martens League Western Division - just four points from the drop zone. Daniels believes Rovers need to win five
ONE of Bromsgrove Cricket Club's former overseas players has made his Test match debut for India against the mighty Australians after their run of 16 consecutive Test victories was brought to a halt in Calcutta. Sairaj Bahatule, who played for the club
GOLFER John Bickerton was denied his debut European Tour victory by the oldest winner in the tour's history. The Droitwich Golf Club member was beaten by two shots in the Madeira Island Open on Sunday by 48-year-old Irishman Des Smyth. It was Bickerton's
POINT-TO-POINT fans in the district were dealt a crushing blow on Monday when the Jockey Club announced the cancellation of this season's remaining fixtures because of the foot and mouth epidemic. Racing's ruling body acted after taking advice from its
THE owner of a Redditch taxi firm, who quit driving following a terrifying robbery, has spoken of his relief after his attacker was sent to a young offender's institute for four years, writes Becky Procter. Mohammed Asfar was robbed of his takings on
A BAREFOOTED man wearing pyjamas was assaulted after chasing a youth he thought had thrown a stone through his bedroom window. The incident happened in the Exhall Close area of Church Hill at about 9.30pm on Friday, March 16. Police said the man heard
A REDDITCH businessman has been disqualified from acting as a company director after his company racked up debts of more than £72,000 in just eight months. Christopher James Clayton, who lived in Plymouth Close, Headless Cross, but now lives in Marbella
REDDITCH police are investigating a 'nasty assault' which left a teenager with a broken nose and stitches in his lip. The attack happened in Petton Close, Winyates, at about midnight on Sunday, when a 19-year-old man who had just got out of a taxi noticed
TWO Studley teenagers were forced at knifepoint to hand over hundreds of pounds after thieves once again targeted the HSBC cash machine in Alcester Road, Studley. The incident happened at about 7pm on Saturday as the 17 and 16-year-old boys were withdrawing
Minister for Overseas Development Clare Short will be in Redditch tomorrow when she visits Arrow Vale Community High School. Ms Short will be at the Green Sward Lane school to answer questions from sixth formers.
A HOLLYWOOD man was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £150 by for drink-driving by Redditch magistrates. Leslie Poole, of Rye Croft, had 52 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath on February 10. The legal limit is 35. He
A BATCHLEY man was disqualified from driving for two years and fined £400 by Redditch magistrates for being more than double the legal alcohol limit. Barry Mills, of Pine Tree Close, had 88 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal
A thief has stolen £300 worth of equipment from a garden shed in Dormston Close, Lodge Park. Shears, spades and other tools were taken, along with £150 worth of spirits, including whisky, from the shed between 2-2.30am on Tuesday, March 13.
AN 88th minute toe-poke from Malvern hitman Andy Shopard dashed Alvechurch's Worcestershire Senior Urn final hopes, writes Matt Smith. Chances were few and far between in the first half with both defences dominating. And it took a long-range free kick
